When can kids in Wales go for a kick about in the park with their friends?

Stay-at-home restrictions will continue in Wales for a further three weeks as the youngest pupils begin returning to school from Monday, First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed today. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

At this afternoon’s press conference, Mark Drakeford gave details of the latest three weekly Welsh government review of current Covid restrictions. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Drakeford announced some minor changes to the current rules including one around exercise. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He also said changes for shops and hairdressers could be on the cards in another three weeks time. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Drakeford confirmed that from Saturday 20^th February, “four people from two different households will be able to meet outdoors for socially distanced local exercise. This doesn’t apply to private gardens.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“From March 1, the law will be changed to allow licensed wedding venues, such as visitor attractions and hotels, to re-open but only to perform wedding and civil partnership ceremonies.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Sport Wales will make arrangements for more of our talented athletes to resume training and playing [professional and elite athletes]” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“With more people living and working in older people’s care homes being vaccinated, we will look again at our guidance for care home visiting.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Asked about children being allowed to go for a kick about in the park, Mr Drakeford told the press conference: “I’m very keen to be able to allow children particularly to resume outdoor exercise and activity.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Our top priority for the moment is getting children back into school.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We will have to carefully observe the evidence of what that does to the transmission of the disease, but if we can have a successful return to school… then beyond that I am very keen indeed to allow those young people to do more in the outdoors in the way that was possible earlier last year.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “I’m very familiar with a long list of activities that people write to us [asking to be allowed] why not tennis, why not golf, why not fishing, why not pigeon racing, why not, you know it’s a long list.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The problem is, every activity you add gives the virus another opportunity to circulate.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Here is the first ministers answer in full. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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